John DiCecco Engineering
 
   
   
 
Engineering

This page hosts several bodies of work and research I've done both as an undergraduate and graduate student.  It also includes published papers and papers currently under review for publication.          

My research is focused on Signal and Image Processing and the neural systems I study are mostly invertebrate central nervous systems.  Among the preparations I use are the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis, the larger sea mollusk Aplysia californica, and most recently, the leech, Hirudo medicinalis.  Sometimes, I get to use the cardiac trunk of my favorite preparation, Homarus americanus, also known as the American Lobster.  Since I only use the heart, the rest is left for the pot!

 

20.  PhD Comprehensive exam 

19.  Final Projects in Estimation Theory.  Parameter Estimation of Linear FM Signals Embedded in White Gaussian Noise and Parameter Estimation of a Known Chaotic Time Series Corrupted by White Gaussian Noise

18.  Final Project in Image Processing.  An Edge Detection Algorithm Using Statistical Nonstationarity.

17.  Final Project in Special Topics in Signal Processing.  A Quantitative Analysis of the Effect of Block and Pad Size On Perfect Reconstruction Noncausal IIR Digital Filters Using Forward/Backward Block Recursion

16.  Two papers for the 33rd Annual Bioengineering Conference, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, March 10-11, 2007.  Inducing Neuronal Bursting Activity in the CNS of L. stagnalis Using Dimethylformamide and The Effect of Gramicidin on the Membrane Potential of Neurons in the CNS of L. stagnalis

15.   A novel approach to physiology education for biomedical engineering students.  Advances in Physiology Education, an American Physiological Society journal.  Accepted 10/25/2006.  Publish date 3/2007.

14.  Five conference papers for the 32nd Annual Bioengineering Conference, Lafayette College, Easton, PA, April 1st and 2nd, 2006: "A Sequential Algorithm for Biological Event Detection Using Statistical Nonstationarity" , "A Fully Digital Implementation of Voltage, Current, and Dynamic Clamping Methodologies" , "Microprocessor Based Control of Electromechanical Devices by Using Electromyogram: A “Cricket Car” Model"  (Associated URI College of Engineering Newsletter Article) , "Hardware Single-Switch Keyboard and Mouse Replacement for Computer Control" and "Electrically Modeled Reciprocal Inhibitory Oscillator"

13. Poster Presentation for the 32nd Annual Bioengineering Conference, Lafayette College, Easton, PA, April 1st and 2nd, 2006:  "A Sequential Algorithm for Biological Event Detection Using Statistical Nonstationarity" (PDF)

12. Poster Presentation Research Week, University of Rhode Island, October 17-20, 2005.  "A fully digital implementation of voltage, current, and dynamic clamping" (PDF)

11. On Significant Discoveries and Landmark Experiments in the Development of Modern Neuroscience (PDF)

10. The Official Neurophysiology Brochure for the Biomedical Engineering Department at URI.  (PDF)

9.  31st Annual Bioengineering Conference Stevens Institute, April 2-3, 2005, Paper Title: "Californica Dreaming:Neurotransmitter ‘Doze’ Response and Neuronal Signal Analysis of Aplysia californica" (PDF)

8.  31st Annual Bioengineering Conference Stevens Institute, April 2-3, 2005, Paper Title: "On the Chaotic Nature of Biological Signals: Linear and Nonlinear Data Analysis of Neuronal Action Potentials" (PDF)

7.  Poster Presentation to the Whitaker Foundation Biomedical Engineering Education Summit March 3-6, 2005, Arlington, VA (PDF)

6.  Article in URI Pacer

5.  Presentation to the 30th Annual Bioengineering Conference Western New England College April 17th-19th, 2004 (PDF file)

4.  Posters presented to the 34th Annual Society for Neuroscience Conference San Diego, CA October 23rd-27th, 2004 ,  Poster 1   Poster 2  (PDF files)

3.  Implementation of Sallen-Key and Multi-Feedback (MFB) Architecture for Higher Order Butterworth Filters (PDF file)

2.  Experiential Learning in Neurophysiology for Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Students (PDF file)

1.  Filter Design: A Comparative Study Between the Cascade of Two First  Order Filters and One Second Order Filter (PDF file)